IHSAA baseball All-Freshmen team: These Central Indiana players splashed in varsity debut

The future of Central Indiana baseball is in good hands with these first-year wonders putting up big numbers on the diamond this past season.

Carsten Bland, Franklin

Bland emerged as Franklin's top hitter in his first season on varsity. Bland batted .341 with 23 runs scored, 17 RBIs, five doubles and 11 stolen bases. Bland finished with a .959 fielding percentage, committing just three errors in 28 games.

Guerin Boshears, Beech Grove

Boshears, a 5-11, 165-pound righty, has explosive stuff on the mound and really came on strong toward the end of his first varsity season. Boshears finished with a 4.59 ERA and 64 strikeouts over 32 innings. Over his final two starts, Boshears threw a 16-strikeout no-hitter against Tech and followed that up with an 11-strikeout win over Monrovia.

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Jaxson Cripe, Lapel

Cripe is a definite name to remember with impressive size and production to match. The 6-3, 195-pounder batted .377 with 17 runs scored, 19 RBIs, seven doubles and four stolen bases. He committed just two errors in 21 games.

Liam Delp, Mooresville

The smooth-fielding Delp started 34 games at second base for the Class 4A runner-up Pioneers. Delp batted .326 with 19 runs scored, 17 RBIs, six doubles and 11 stolen bases. Delp finished with a .963 fielding percentage, committing just three errors in 34 games.

Anthony Dennison, Warren Central

Dennison had a strong freshman season as a two-way player for the Warriors. Dennison batted .342 with seven runs scored, five RBIs, one double and one stolen base. Dennison walked nine times and struck out just seven times in 19 games. On the mound, Dennison made 11 appearances, finishing with a 4.43 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 36⅓ innings.

Jackson Dinnsen, North Central

Dinnsen played 15 varsity games as a freshman for North Central. The left-handed batter batted .419 with five runs scored, eight RBIs, two doubles and one stolen base. On the mound, Dinnsen made three appearances, allowing just one run (0.78 ERA) with seven strikeouts over nine innings.

Kellan Dishman, Triton Central

The 6-0, 240-pound Dishman quickly became a key run producer for Triton Central. Dishman batted .417, with 26 runs scored, 26 RBIs, 11 doubles and two home runs.

Jayden Dorsey, Lawrence Central

Dorsey batted .303 with 13 runs scored, eight RBIs, two doubles, three triples, one home run and seven stolen bases.

Quentin Espinoza, Lawerence Central

Espinoza started the season as a reliever before transitioning to a starter. His best start was an 11-strikeout complete game victory against Speedway. For the season, Espinoza had a 5-2 record with a 3.76 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 44⅔ innings.

Grantland Fitzgerald, Shelbyville

Fitzgerald's athleticism (he's a wide receiver on the football team) translated well to the diamond. The 5-9, 155 pounder batted .397 with 23 runs scored, five RBIs, two doubles and six stolen bases. Fitzgerald walked 18 times and struck out just seven times in 25 games.

Lincoln Hoffman, Westfield

A sweet-swinging lefty with a solid 5-10, 185-pound frame, Hoffman batted .261 with 21 runs scored, five RBI,s three doubles, one triple and seven stolen bases.

Brayden Hoover, Triton Central

Hoover has good size for his age at 5-11, 160 pounds and has already shown elite bat-to-ball ability. Hoover batted .518 with 17 runs scored, 18 RBIs, four doubles, one triple and nine stolen bases.

Drew Justice, Perry Meridian

Justice batted .327 with seven runs scored, eight RBIs, two doubles and eight stolen bases. Justice did not commit an error in 17 chances over 19 games.

Brendan Mackie, Bethesda Christian

Mackie batted .371 with 25 runs scored, 19 RBIs, three doubles and 14 stolen bases. Mackie walked 18 times and struck out 17 times in 22 games.

Gavin Markus, Greenfield-Central

The top-rated Class of 2027 Indiana right-hander, per Prep Baseball Report, Markus has all the tools to become an ace. In his first season with the Cougars, Markus posted a 2.85 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 27 innings.

Drake McClurg, Center Grove

The No. 1 overall Indiana Class of 2027 player, per Prep Baseball Report, the switch-hitting McClurg batted .317 with 30 runs scored, 15 RBIs, three doubles, one triple, one home run and eight stolen bases.

Mason Meyer, Mt. Vernon

Meyer batted .284 with 13 runs scored, 20 RBIs, two doubles, one triple, two home runs and 11 stolen bases.

Logan Moore, Speedway

Moore batted .317 with nine runs scored, 11 RBIs, six doubles and seven stolen bases.

Aiden Pollack, Irvington Prep

Pollack pitched to a 2-0 record with 2.89 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 26⅔ innings. At the plate, Pollack batted .293 with 20 runs scored, 22 RBIs, five doubles and 16 stolen bases.

Levi Seib, Decatur Central

Seib batted .348 with 18 runs scored, four RBIs and six stolen bases. Seib finished his first season with a .978 fielding percentage. He walked 13 times and struck out just 10 times in 26 games.

Will Simons, Greenwood Christian

Simons batted .414 with 24 runs scored, 23 RBIs, six doubles, two triple and 16 stolen bases. On the mound, Simons went 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 40⅔ innings.

Weston Smith, Triton Central

Smith put up big numbers in his first year with the Tigers. Smith batted .377 with 27 runs scored, 27 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple, two home runs and 10 stolen bases.

Quinn Westerfield, Western Boone

Westerfield is one of the top Indiana left-handed pitchers in his class. Westerfield went 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 47 innings. At the plate, Westerfield batted .352 with 22 runs scored, 27 RBIs, four doubles, one triple, one home run and 11 stolen bases.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school baseball top freshmen from 2024 season